Toronto City Hall Requests Exemption from CETA

On March 6, 2012 Toronto City Council voted for a permanent exemption from the Canada-EU free trade deal.

Councillor Kristyn wong-Tam made the following motion headed “Request to protect City of Toronto interests and existing powers in any trade agreement signed between the Government of Canada and the European Union”

That:

1. City Council request the Province of Ontario issue a clear, permanent exemption of the City of Toronto from the Canada-European Union (EU) Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and that it otherwise protect the powers of municipalities, hospitals, school boards, utilities, universities and other sub-federal agencies to use public procurement, services and investment as tools to create local jobs and otherwise support local economic development.

2. City Council request the Federal Government to protect the powers of the City – to create local jobs, protect the environment, and provide services and programs as it sees fit – from any restrictions to those powers in the CETA.

Food, Agriculture and CETA a presentation by Lauren Baker to the “Exploring the Comprehensive Trade and Economic Trade Agreement between Canada and the EU: An International Workshop” held on Wednesday February 29, 2012, convened by the European Union Centre of Excellence at York University in collaboration with the EU Chamber of Commerce in Toronto.

On February 13 Toronto City Council’s Executive Committee debated the implications of the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) for Toronto. Sasha McNicoll prepared the following brief.